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Elevation NoteElevation in Canmore is 4,429 ft. Participants can experience elevations of up to 8,600 ft.

Equipment RequirementsComfortable hiking/walking boots and casual walking clothing. Hiking boots are specifically designed for the sport of hiking. They are arguably the most important hiking gear since their quality and durability can determine a hiker's ability to move farther, faster and safer.

Room amenities: Amenities include in-room coffee makers, hair dryers and air conditioning. Small fridge & microwave in all rooms. Free local calls. Rooms have either a patio or balcony from which you can breathe in the fresh mountain air.

Facility amenities: The Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn is a full service facility, situated in the midst of the spectacular mountain town of Canmore. Shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants are within walking distance. Grand lobby with wood fireplace, sauna and exercise room. Public internet access.

Smoking policy: NoSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Elevator: Yes

Additional nights before: Contact hotel directlyIf you wish to arrive at the Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn early or stay an extra night at
the end of the program please speak to a reservation representative at 1-800-268-0935.

Room amenities: Amenities include in-room coffee makers, hair dryers and air conditioning. Small fridge & microwave in all rooms. Free local calls. Rooms have either a patio or balcony from which you can breathe in the fresh mountain air.

Facility amenities: The Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn is a full service facility, situated in the midst of the spectacular mountain town of Canmore. Shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants are within walking distance. Grand lobby with wood fireplace, sauna and exercise room. Public internet access.

Smoking policy: NoSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Elevator: Yes

Additional nights before: Contact hotel directlyIf you wish to arrive at the Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn early or stay an extra night at
the end of the program please speak to a reservation representative at 1-800-268-0935.

Check in time: 4:00 PM

Day Two: Monday, July 29 - Hike Sunshine Meadows in Banff National Park

Note: This is a very active program with daily hikes on mountain trails with varied terrain. Two levels of hiking options are available according to ability levels. Moderate: (5-6 miles; 1000 -1700 feet elevation) and Motivated: (7-9 miles; 1200 - 2400 feet elevation). In addition to the distances listed, it is important to consider the amount of elevation gained and lost, the varied terrain, and the starting elevation of hikes, which ranges between 4,200-7,200 feet.

Morning: PRESENTATION: During your scenic drive to the trailhead, your knowledgeable guides will present information about the history of Banff National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the harsh alpine environment of Sunshine Meadows and the influence of the pine beetle in mountain environments.
FIELD TRIP: Hiking - Sunshine Meadows. Depart hotel for full day of interpretive hiking at Sunshine Meadows in Banff National Park. Learn about the ecology of the Sunshine Meadows area, one of the premiere hiking areas in the Rockies. The meadows are famous for the summer wildflowers, magnificent lakes, and monumental mountain peaks. Fall colors start at the end of August, with the Larch trees turning a vibrant gold.

Lunch: Hearty home-made trail lunch from the Summit Cafe.

Afternoon: Continuation of morning hiking options at Sunshine Meadows. Discuss the human impact on the park's delicate alpine environment. Learn what measures are being undertaken to balance human encroachment with park conservation.

Room amenities: Amenities include in-room coffee makers, hair dryers and air conditioning. Small fridge & microwave in all rooms. Free local calls. Rooms have either a patio or balcony from which you can breathe in the fresh mountain air.

Facility amenities: The Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn is a full service facility, situated in the midst of the spectacular mountain town of Canmore. Shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants are within walking distance. Grand lobby with wood fireplace, sauna and exercise room. Public internet access.

Smoking policy: NoSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Elevator: Yes

Additional nights before: Contact hotel directlyIf you wish to arrive at the Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn early or stay an extra night at
the end of the program please speak to a reservation representative at 1-800-268-0935.

Morning: PRESENTATION: Presentation talks will cover the history of Canmore, names and stories of surrounding peaks, the history of Kananaskis Country, the First Nations people, and the ecoregions of the Canadian Rockies.
FIELD TRIP: Hiking - Spray Valley. Depart hotel for full day of interpretive hiking in the Spray Valley in Kananaskis Country's Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Ability levels and groups as per the previous day. Hikers will be able to choose from trails to Burstall Pass, Chester Lake, and Black Prince Cirque.

Lunch: Hearty home-made trail lunch from the Summit Cafe.

Afternoon: Continuation of hiking options in Spray Valley area. Examine the specific ecology of this area including native wildlife and their habitats, conservation efforts, and the unique geology of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies.

Room amenities: Amenities include in-room coffee makers, hair dryers and air conditioning. Small fridge & microwave in all rooms. Free local calls. Rooms have either a patio or balcony from which you can breathe in the fresh mountain air.

Facility amenities: The Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn is a full service facility, situated in the midst of the spectacular mountain town of Canmore. Shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants are within walking distance. Grand lobby with wood fireplace, sauna and exercise room. Public internet access.

Smoking policy: NoSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Elevator: Yes

Additional nights before: Contact hotel directlyIf you wish to arrive at the Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn early or stay an extra night at
the end of the program please speak to a reservation representative at 1-800-268-0935.

Morning: PRESENTATION: Bow Valley. Journey by coach up the Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A) while discussing the unique features of this montane ecosystem. Explore the impact of wildfires, controlled burns and fire management efforts as strategies for protecting mountain wildlands. Learn about the effects of glaciation and water erosion in the formation of Johnston Canyon.
FIELD TRIP: Hiking - Johnston Canyon. Depart hotel for hikes in Johnston Canyon. Levels and groups as in previous days. You will learn about the geological timeline of the Canadian Rockies and the concept of differential erosion, as Johnston Creek has carved down into the limestone on the valley bottom, creating a spectacular and deep canyon in a short period of time.

Lunch: Hearty home-made trail lunch from the Summit Cafe.

Afternoon: PRESENTATION: En route via Banff, the guides will share their knowledge on the history of Banff townsite, and the Banff Springs Hotel.
Free Time in Banff: Explore independently the "Castle of the Canadian Rockies" - the Banff Springs Hotel and/or the many museums, shops and cafes that line Banff's bustling main street. Gain an appreciation for original Canadian artists and the art history of Banff with a visit to the Whyte Museum, or one of the town's cutting-edge art galleries. Learn more about aboriginal heritage, culture and handcrafted antiquities with a visit to the Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum. Optional walk to Bow Falls.

Room amenities: Amenities include in-room coffee makers, hair dryers and air conditioning. Small fridge & microwave in all rooms. Free local calls. Rooms have either a patio or balcony from which you can breathe in the fresh mountain air.

Facility amenities: The Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn is a full service facility, situated in the midst of the spectacular mountain town of Canmore. Shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants are within walking distance. Grand lobby with wood fireplace, sauna and exercise room. Public internet access.

Smoking policy: NoSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Elevator: Yes

Additional nights before: Contact hotel directlyIf you wish to arrive at the Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn early or stay an extra night at
the end of the program please speak to a reservation representative at 1-800-268-0935.

Morning: PRESENTATION: Yoho National Park. Today we cross the Continental Divide and head into British Columbia while learning about the geology of the Canadian Rockies, the famous Burgess Shale fossil beds (UNESCO World Heritage Site), wildlife corridors in the Bow Valley, and history of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Learn about the remarkable Spiral Tunnels and witness the amazing engineering feats of early railway construction through high mountain passes.
FIELD TRIP: Hiking - Yoho National Park. Depart hotel for full day of interpretive hiking in Yoho National Park. Levels and groups as in previous days. Hiking destinations for the day include: Yoho Pass and Takakkaw Falls, Emerald Basin, and Emerald Lake circuit. Witness breathtaking views on all hikes and enjoy the lush and unique west-slope vegetation.

Lunch: Hearty home-made trail lunch from the Summit Cafe.

Afternoon: Continuation of interpretive hiking in Yoho National Park. Enjoy lakeside hikes along the jade-green waters of Emerald Lake and/or hike the trails of Emerald Basin. Discuss the significance of the Burgess Shale Fossil beds in the surrounding mountain ranges, one of the largest, oldest and best-preserved fossil beds in the world.

Dinner: Enjoy a unique dinner location at the historic Lake Louise Train Station restaurant. Dinner is plated and some of the ingredients are grown on-site in the Chef's garden. The building is a treasure trove of historical photographs and early Canadian Pacific Railway memorabilia.

Evening: Return to Canmore will be later than usual due to our dinner in Lake Louise

Room amenities: Amenities include in-room coffee makers, hair dryers and air conditioning. Small fridge & microwave in all rooms. Free local calls. Rooms have either a patio or balcony from which you can breathe in the fresh mountain air.

Facility amenities: The Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn is a full service facility, situated in the midst of the spectacular mountain town of Canmore. Shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants are within walking distance. Grand lobby with wood fireplace, sauna and exercise room. Public internet access.

Smoking policy: NoSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Elevator: Yes

Additional nights before: Contact hotel directlyIf you wish to arrive at the Canmore Rocky Mountain Inn early or stay an extra night at
the end of the program please speak to a reservation representative at 1-800-268-0935.

Check in time: 4:00 PM

Day Six: Friday, August 02 - Hike Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks...

Hike Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks/Lake Louise/Chateau Lake Louise

Morning: PRESENTATION: Mountain Environment/National Parks. Today our topics of discussion include water management issues in mountain environments, current issues and future of our National Parks, and climbing culture (the Golden Age of Mountaineering).
FIELD TRIP: Hiking Moraine Lake and Valley of the Ten Peaks. Full day of interpretive hiking at Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Levels and groups as in previous days. Begin your hiking expedition at turquoise-colored Moraine Lake, with close-up views of the Ten Peaks. Today's various destinations include secluded and picturesque Consolation Lake, the breathtaking Larch Valley trail, and the spectacular vistas of Sentinel Pass.

Lunch: Hearty home-made trail lunch from the Summit Cafe.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Lake Louise. Following the hikes, a special stop later in the afternoon will give you the opportunity to view the world-renowned Lake Louise, the Victoria Glacier, and the grand Chateau Lake Louise . Free time to explore the Chateau and lakeside panoramas. Return to Canmore for dinner.

Morning: Departure from Canmore to Calgary Airport; included shuttle leaves Canmore at 8:30 am. Approximate arrival at Calgary Airport is 11:00 a.m. To allow for unexpected weather, and/or traffic conditions, participants should book flights that are scheduled to depart in the early afternoon.

Important information about your itinerary: Please know that while we do everything we can to finalize all aspects of our programs well in advance, there are logistics that occasionally must be altered. Our website will reflect the most recent information, and we are committed to providing you with final program details no later than eight weeks prior to the start of programs outside the U.S. and three weeks prior to the start of programs within the U.S. If you ever have questions about your program, please don't hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

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The latest in light, portable, easy-to-use QUIETVOX listening devices are available on Road Scholar programs.* Whether you are outdoors, in a crowd or in a museum environment where speaking loudly is discouraged, a listening device makes it feel like our experts are speaking clearly and directly to you. Hear for yourself on a Road Scholar adventure!

*Please note that due to the nature of some programs, the remote location or government regulations, listening devices may not be available. If you’d like to know for sure if your program will offer listening devices, just call and ask an Advisor!